The Curfeu tolls the Knell of parting Day,
    The lowing Herd winds slowly o’er the Lea,
    The Plow-man homeward plods his weary Way,
    And leaves the World to Darkness, and to me. 
      Now fades the glimmering Landscape on the Sight,
    And all the Air a solemn Stillness holds;
    Save where the Beetle wheels his droning Flight,
    And drowsy Tinklings lull the distant Folds. 
      Save that from yonder Ivy-mantled Tow’r
    The mopeing Owl does to the Moon complain
    Of such, as wand’ring near her sacred Bow’r,
    Molest her ancient solitary Reign. 
      Beneath those rugged Elms, that Yew-Tree’s Shade,
    Where heaves the Turf in many a mould’ring Heap,
    Each in his narrow Cell for ever laid,
    The rude Forefathers of the Hamlet sleep. 
      The breezy Call of Incense-breathing Morn,
    The Swallow twitt’ring from the Straw-built Shed,
    The Cock’s shrill Clarion, or the ecchoing Horn,
    No more shall wake them from their lowly Bed. 
      For them no more the blazing Hearth shall burn,
    Or busy Houswife ply her Evening Care: 
    No Children run to lisp their Sire’s Return,
    Or climb his Knees the envied Kiss to share. 
      Oft did the Harvest to their Sickle yield,
    Their Furrow oft the stubborn Glebe has broke;
    How jocund did they they drive their Team afield! 
    How bow’d the Woods beneath their sturdy Stroke! 
      Let not Ambition mock their useful Toil,
    Their homely Joys and Destiny obscure;
    Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful Smile,
    The short and simple Annals of the Poor. 
      The Boast of Heraldry, the Pomp of Pow’r,
    And all that Beauty, all that Wealth e’er gave,
    Awaits alike th’ inevitable Hour. 
    The Paths of Glory lead but to the Grave. 
      Forgive, ye Proud, th’ involuntary Fault,
    If Memory to these no Trophies raise,
    Where thro’ the long-drawn Isle and fretted Vault
    The pealing Anthem swells the Note of Praise. 
      Can storied Urn or animated Bust
    Back to its Mansion call the fleeting Breath? 
    Can Honour’s Voice provoke the silent Dust,
    Or Flatt’ry sooth the dull cold Ear of Death! 
      Perhaps in this neglected Spot is laid
    Some Heart once pregnant with celestial Fire,
    Hands that the Reins of Empire might have sway’d,
    Or wak’d to Extacy the living Lyre. 
      But Knowledge to their Eyes her ample Page
    Rich with the Spoils of Time did ne’er unroll;
    Chill Penury repress’d their noble Rage,
    And froze the genial Current of the Soul. 
      Full many a Gem of purest Ray serene,
    The dark unfathom’d Caves of Ocean bear: 
    Full many a Flower is born to blush unseen,
    And waste its Sweetness on the desart Air. 
      Some Village-Hampden that with dauntless Breast